Centre extends deployment of 273 CAPF companies in Delhi till October 31 amid protest fears

The Union Home Ministry has extended the deployment of 273 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies in Delhi till October 31 amid the possibility of "flash protests" by political and other groups, official sources said on Friday. This is the second extension of the deployment, which was initially ordered in view of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) earlier this month.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed the Delhi Police and the respective CAPFs on October 22 to coordinate the deployment, the sources told PTI.

The extension was approved at the request of the Delhi Police, which informed the ministry about the possibility of flash protests by political and other outfits at various "sensitive" locations across the national capital. Officials said the continued deployment was essential to ensure proper law and order.

The MHA approved the request, the sources said, adding that a similar extension had been sanctioned in mid-October.

Of the 273 companies that will remain deployed in Delhi alongside the local police, 125 belong to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including 20 women personnel units. The deployment also includes 20 companies from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), 46 from the Border Security Force (BSF), 39 from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 31 from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and 12 from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

A CAPF company has a sanctioned strength of 100 personnel, but its effective operational manpower is about 70-72 personnel.

Parts of Delhi witnessed CJP protests on October 9, with the party seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties subsequently staged protests with the same demand.

The CJP also held a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' demonstration on October 16.